Long scoring droughts slow down the offense
| WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – The Northern Michigan women’s basketball team opened its season with a 56-35 defeat to the No. 14 Central Missouri Jennies on Friday afternoon at the D2CCA Midwest Tip-Off Challenge. The Wildcat defense was disruptive, causing 25 turnovers, the most in a game since they forced 28 turnovers against William Jewell on November 9, 2019. Freshman Teagan Schoenecker was at the forefront of the defensive effort with seven steals. Despite that, the Wildcats struggled offensively. NMU shot just 14-63 (22.2%) overall and 2-13 (15.4%) from three. After a high-scoring 21-14 opening quarter, the teams combined for just 30 points in the second and third, with NMU only managing four points in each. Freshman Alli Jirsa led Northern with eight points, while UCM was paced by Taylor Weishaar with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. How it Happened The Jennies opened the game with the first four before Sydney Whitehouse recorded NMU’s first scratch of the season. UCM pushed its advantage to 10-2, but the Wildcats attacked the paint, including back-to-back buckets from freshman Teagan Schoenecker, to tie the game 12-12. The Jennies closed the season’s opening quarter strong, knocking down three triples to lead 21-14 after 10 minutes. The Wildcats disrupted the Jennies’ offense with seven turnovers, but the Jennies shot 8-11 (72.7) and had the edge on the glass. Defense was the calling card of the second quarter, as neither side cracked double figures (9-4 UCM). NMU missed its first six shots before freshman Alli Jirsa scored on her first career attempt halfway through the quarter. Northern trailed 30-18 at the break, finishing just 2-16 (12.5%) in the second, and 0-9 from three in the half. Twelve forced turnovers kept things close. The defenses carried that momentum into the second half. It took over three minutes of the half until either side scored, coming from the Jennies. NMU missed its first seven attempts before Jordyn Schmittdiel ended that with 4:27 left in the frame. It was another four-point quarter for the Wildcats, who trailed 43-22 going to the fourth. On its 10th three-point attempt of the game, Ava Bates finally connected for the Wildcats to open the fourth. Northern, however, missed its next 10 shots before Jirsa and Bates put together a 7-0 run. That was not enough, as the No. 14 Jennies knocked off the Wildcats. Up Next The Wildcats return to action tomorrow, October 31, to take on Truman State at 1:30 p.m. CT (2:30 p.m. ET) |
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